© irene waters 2018
Whenever I am finally through immigration and customs and in the waiting area (above Brisbane airport) I always have a sense of anticipation. Something is going to happen. I am going somewhere but not far beneath the surface is a fear which although well hidden doesn’t take much to come out. I flew once from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and soon after takeoff we were informed that we would be crash landing in LA. Our front wheel was not going to be able to be put down and rather than risk putting the other wheels down and digging the nose into the tarmac and flipping us over, they were going to do a belly landing. We would land on a runway far from the terminal and be met with all emergency services ready to put out fires and anything else that might eventuate. From the moment of that announcement the plane went silent. Hands were squeezed tight but not one person uttered a sound. We went into crash position before landing and the pilot did a superb job putting the plane down. As we came to a halt the firebrigade doused the plane with foam and a spontaneous cheer went up from everyone inside the plane. We’d landed without anyone being injured? Before we were taken off the plane they asked that anyone that had been injured to remain in their seats. I was surprised at how many did. Me I was just glad to be off alive.
© irene waters 2018
Dawn heralded that Dubai was getting close.
Our flight from Brisbane to Dubai left at 1025 pm Australian time and arrived in Dubai 14.35 hours later. Twenty two hours without sleep. The plane was not full so having found a set of three seats with no-one in them I gave up my seat to Roger giving him the ability to stretch out on those three whilst I had plans to stretch out on the others. My plan was foiled when I discovered that the seats I had chosen didn’t allow the arm rests to be lifted and I could stretch out frontwards by not sideways. I’ve never been able to sit to sleep so I returned only to find Roger asleep so I let him be.
© irene waters 2018
He said when he woke up that he hadn’t had much sleep and he needs sleep more than I do.
© irene waters 2018
I caught up on a few movies until we started our descent when the scenery below took my interest.
© irene waters 2018
The patterns of Dubai always have me fascinated.
© irene waters 2018
Sand and ? roads make for wonderful patterns.
© irene waters 2018
I dream about what it would be like to live surrounded by dessert. What the sandstorms would be like and how much dusting and sweeping housewives must have to do.
© irene waters 2018
© irene waters 2018
© irene waters 2018
I watched a car enter the patch of road that is obliterated by sand. I saw it enter and did not see it again until it came out the other side.
© irene waters 2018
And finally we have landed. We only had an hour between our landing and our flight to Cairo. Dubai airport is like a city in itself with shops, prayer areas, gyms, lounges, bars, smoking areas and free wifi. All we had time to do was walk from one gate to another, arriving with only five minutes to spare.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Sounds like a mystical place – however, I’ve never had a desire to visit Dubai.
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I have never stayed in Dubai although stopped off there many times. My brother has frequently broken his journey there with the kids and I think has had a short holiday there as well. From what he says it sounds to me as though it is like Disney land in the desert. I know the boys love staying in a hotel room which is part of an aquarium and one entire wall is glass looking at the huge fish swimming around. As I prefer the natural to the bizarre I don’t have a great desire to stop off there either (plus it sounds expensive but I could be wrong there).
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I remember those patterns of roads as you fly into Dubai, they’re intriguing. We always break our journey from Aus to the UK with a few days there and enjoy staying in Deira, the older part of town.
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My brother stops off there also but I doubt he stays in the old part as it sounds a bit like Disney Land. Is the old part less touristy?
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The old part isn’t as flashy. We like it because we feel immersed in the life of locals rather than being in a luxurious hotel that could be anywhere in the world. I love to sit at a creekside cafe watching the old wooden cargo boats coming and going.
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I’m with you. I’d prefer to soak up local life than be in all the glitz.
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I was afraid that something might have happened. Thank God you arrived safely. I can never sleep on the plane. Will you stay there long?
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We have been and are now back safely. You will just be stuck hearing about it for awhile.
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I would love to hear more about it!!
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That’s lucky as I know you will hear more about it.
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Yes, I love to hear more abut it.
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I need to write a post for the Time Past before getting busy (already busy) Christmas.
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Yes it is that time of year Miriam. If you get time that would be fantastic. Don’t forget to link it.
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Sure, Irene. After my two Christmas performances this weekend.
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What a terrifying flight from Vegas to LA you once had. I’ve also experienced an in-flight emergency with a diversion and emergency landing. What struck me, as you wrote of it too, was the utter silence. We imagine that people scream and freak out, but that’s not so. A strange and fortifying experience.
As to the Dubai and dessert lines, stunning symmetry! Oh, that sand would be a pain to deal with but I suppose each region has its perks and quirks.
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Yes that silence surprised me. It is a fortifying experience. I once had a motor bike accident and it was the first time I had a pillion passenger with me. A car hit me side on and sent me over. I managed to pull it up but it went down the other side and again I managed to pull it up. This went on for some time before I came to a stop. Upright with no-one severely injured. It too was a fortifying experience. I guess anytime you see life flashing away and you come out the other side has to make you feel fantastic and gives you added strength because you have faced it.
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There is a strange strength to surviving such. What a scary motorcycle event though!
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I felt exhilarated after it. It was the event that made me believe that “yes! I can ride.” We were on our way to our final nursing examinations – we both passed but I always felt it affected my performance.
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